Spurrier, Shaw lift South Carolina to 34-24 win over Wisconsin Cap One Bowl

January 1, 2014|By Iliana Limón Romero, Orlando Sentinel

No. 9 South Carolina relied on its biggest stars to lift it to a 34-24 win over No. 19 Wisconsin during the Capital One Bowl at Orlando's Citrus Bowl.

Veteran coach Steve Spurrier gambled with an innovative game plan that featured some trick plays that ultimately sealed the Gamecocks' third consecutive 11-win season.

Senior quarterback Connor Shaw, who has battled injuries all of his career, was 22-of-25 passing for 312 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught one touchdown pass on a trick play.

Future NFL star Jadeveon Clowney, whose work ethic was questioned much of this season, was immensely disruptive, showing what makes him such a strong NFL draft prospect.

The Gamecocks didn't earn the win without a fierce fight from a talented Badgers lineup that kept pushign despite losing staring quarterback Joel Stave to an injury during the game.

Initially it seemed the defensive units would dominate this matchup. However, the offenses shook off sluggish starts to deliver some big plays and an entertaining bowl game.

An early turnover helped the Gamecocks jump out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. However, Wisconsin quickly responded with a scoring drive.

South Carolina received the opening kickoff amid a sprinkling of rain. Coach Steve Spurrier made an early big call, going for it on fourth-and-one near mid-field. The Gamecocks easily converted the play. However, the promising drive sputtered and the Gamecocks were eventually forced to punt.

Both offenses would go on to struggle to move the ball until a fortunate bounce off a Wisconsin player's shoe helped South Carolina picked off a Badgers pass. Connor Shaw then connected with Bruce Ellington for a 39-yard touchdown heave to give the Gamecocks a 7-0 lead with 41 seconds left in the first quarter.

The interception and ensuing touchdown seemed to snap the Badgers out of their offensive malaise, helping Wisconsin counter with a score.

Badgers quarterback Joel Stave completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Sam Arneson. The extra point helped Wisconsin tie the game 7-7 at the 12:45 mark in the second quarter.

Spurrier called for a bit of misdirection later in the second quarter. The Gamecocks ran a reverse with a pitch to Ellington and he passed to Shaw for a 9-yard touchdown. Thanks to a bad snap, South Carolina missed the extra point to make the score 13-7 at the 6:48 mark in the second quarter.

Stave countered with one more touchdown strike before halftime, hitting Jeff Duckworth for a 3-yard touchdown. The Badgers hit the extra point, taking a 14-13 lead with 13 seconds left in the second quarter.

Wisconsin got the ball to open the third quarter and Jack Russell hit a 35-yard field goal to extend the Badgers' lead to 17-13 at the 11:19 mark.

The Badgers continued to dominate the third quarter, forcing Shaw to fumble around the Gamecocks' 30-yard line. However, Russell missed a 42-yard field goal and Wisconsin got no points off the turnover.

South Carolina battled back, with Shaw connecting with Ellington again. This time, the duo collaborated on a 22-yard touchdown pass. With the extra point, the Gamecocks took a 20-17 lead at the 3:29 mark in the third quarter.

Russell's miss seemed to have given Wisconsin pause early in the fourth quarter. Rather than letting him attempt another 42-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, the Badgers went for it on fourth-and-one and were stuffed by the Gamecocks.

South Carolina kept building on its momentum, with Shaw Roland rising up between two Wisconsin defensive backs to haul in a Shaw pass for a gain of 49 yards. A few plays later, Shaw would pass to Jerell Adams for a 3-yard touchdown. With the extra point, the Gamecocks took a 27-17 lead at the 11:05 mark in the fourth quarter.

The Badgers finally got the counter-punch they needed when Landon Ard returned a kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown. The extra point trimmed the Gamecocks' lead to 27-24 with 10:54 left in the fourth quarter.

Ultimately, Shaw, who was playing his final game at quarterback for the Gamecocks, led his team back down the field for a pivotal touchdown. Shaw rushed for a 1-yard score. With the extra point, South Carolina took a commanding 34-24 lead at the 6:27 mark in the fourth quarter.

Like Shaw, South Carolina star defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney loomed large in his final contest for the Gamecocks. He was disruptive all game and was part of a defense that knocked Stave out of the contest.

Wisconsin forced a turnover in the final four minutes, but South Carolina forced two additional turnovers to help seal the Gamecocks' Capital One Bowl victory.